Apparatus for separating bound books

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for separating books from an interconnected book pad in which the books have been joined together along one edge by interconnecting threads which have been severed but left engaged either in the loops of the terminal stitches of the adjacent book or in the needle punched holes of the first signature of the adjacent book. The method comprises moving the book to be separated transversely relative to the pad until the interconnecting threads are extracted and the book is separated from the pad. The apparatus for accomplishing the method includes a device for detecting the position of the book at the leading edge of the pad and a reciprocating plunger which drives the book transversely relative to the pad whenever its leading edge is moved to a predetermined location. The apparatus also includes a kicker arm for moving separated books away from the pad to facilitate their further processing.

United States Patent 1 Koether et al.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING BOUND BOOKS Inventors: Karl H. Koether,Suffern; Arthur J.

Dillin, WestNyack, both of N.Y.

Assignee: H. W. Wilson Company, Bronx,

Filed: March 13, 1970 Appl. No.: 19,226

us. Cl. "225/103; 214/7, 214/8.5 F

Int. Cl. ..B26f 3/00 Field of Search....214/8.5 A, 8.5 F, 8.5 R, 8.5 B,214/85 SS, 7; 225/99, 103

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1960 Hopton ..2l4/7 X 5/1969Luginbuhl ..2l4/7 X 10/1960 Brown ..'....214/l BB X [4 1 Jan. 2, 1973Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Assistant Examiner-George F. AbrahamAttorney-John A. l-lowson 57 ABSTRACT Method and apparatus forseparating books from an interconnected book pad in which the books havebeen joined together along'one edge by interconnecting threads whichhave been severed but left engaged either in the loops of the terminalstitches of the adjacent book or in the needle punched holes of thefirst signature of the adjacent book. The method comprises moving thebook to be separated transversely relative to the pad until theinterconnecting threads are extracted and the book is separated from thepad. The apparatus for accomplishing the method includes a device fordetecting the position of the book at the leading edge of the pad and areciprocating plunger which drives the book transversely relative to thepad whenever its leading edge is moved to a predetermined location. Theapparatus also includes a kicker arm for moving separated books awayfromthe pad to facilitate their further processing.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 2191a SHEEI 2 [IF 5 PATENTEDJAN1 2 ms SHEET [1F 5 nm oi PATENTEDJMI 2 I973 SHEET 5 BF 5 BACKGROUND Thisinvention relates to apparatus for separating one or more individualbooks from an interconnected book pad. More particularly it concerns theseparation of books from a pad in which the books have been stitched orotherwise secured together.

It is known to stitch book signatures together to form a pad of bookswhich are joined together along one edge by interconnecting threads. Itis also known to sever these threads between books and to leave theircut ends engaged either in the loops of the terminal stitches of theadjacent book or in the needle punched holes of the first signature ofthe adjacent book. Prior book separating devices have extracted thesethreads from adjacent books, but none of them have been verysatisfactory. Thus, even today for the most part books are separatedfrom a continuously stitched book pad by hand.

It is one object of the invention therefore to provide an improvedmethod and device for separating books from a pad of book signatures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel attachment for asignature sewing machine which extracts the free ends of the severed butinterconnecting threads between books in a continuous sewn pad of booksignatures.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device having one ormore of the above characteristics in which several books may besimultaneously severed from the book pad.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device havingone or more of the above characteristics which is reliable and operatesautomatically without constant attention from a machine operator.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device having oneor more of the above characteristics which operates at a rate dependenton the speed with which the book pad is advanced.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device having one ormore of the above characteristics which operates at a rate dependent onthe thickness of the books in the pad.

Still another object of the inventionis to provide a device having oneor more of the above characteristics which is adapted to separate booksof varying lengths and widths and thicknesses from a continuous bookpad.

Further, other and additional objects of the invention will becomeobvious from the following summary and detailed description, especiallywhen considered in connection with the drawings and the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention separating one ormore books from a continuous book pad is accomplished by moving the bookor books relative to the pad until the connection between them issevered. In carrying out this method use is made of the movement of thebook pad per se to trigger the operation of a relative movement devicewhich severs the book(s) from the pad.

In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus according to the inventioncomprises a plunger which under predetermined conditions contacts oneedge of the leading book or books in a continuous book pad and drives itor them sharply in a transverse direction thus moving the book(s) as ifto shear it (them) from the pad. In a continuously sewn padl thisshearing motion causes the cut threads, which are engaged one way oranother with the adjacent book, to be extracted and freed from suchengagement. This transverse movement frees the book and completes itsseparation from the pad.

The signal which initiates the separating action of the plunger isgenerated by the automatic closing of a switch when the pad has beenadvanced to a predetermined position. As the plunger completes itsseparating movement it operates another switch which initiates theraising of a gate. In its down position the gate serves to help maintainthe leading end of the pad in an upright condition. This raising motionof the gate also operates a kicker arm which pushes the now severedbook(slaway from the pad. As the gate reaches its raised position itoperates a third. switch which causes the travel bar carrying the gateto move back to a predetermined position preparatory to lowering thegate again to support the new leading end of the book pad.Simultaneously with this operation this third switch also prepares the'device for the return of the plunger to its original position. As thetravel bar starts its rearward movement the first switch which startedthe cycle operates in the reverse direction returning the plunger. Asthe plunger starts its return motion the second switch is operated inthe reverse direction thus lowering the gate and as the gate lowers thethird switch operates in the reverse direction to complete the cycle.

The various elements comprising the device include structural memberspreferably made of metal though as will be obvious certain of them mayalso be made of other materials such as wood or plastic. The device alsopreferably includes a plurality of cylinders operable by compressed air,valves associatedwith these cylinders and electrical andelectromechanical equipment to control the operation of the valves.Various other control elements may be used, in. place of these if it isdesired to do so.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the preferredembodiment of the inventive apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along line2--2 of that figure;

FIG. 3 is a profile elevation view of the preferred embodiment justbefore separation of a book and taken generally along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a profile elevation view of the FIG. 3 apparatus after theplunger has separated a book and after the gate has fully opened and thesevered book cleared away by the kicker arm;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a portion of the operating sequenceof the plunger and the kicker arm, and includes a sequence ofthreefigures, FIG. 5a illustrating the relative positions of the books,plunger and kicker arm before actuation; FIG. 5!; showing these elementsduring plunger positionbut before the kicker arm moves; and FIG. 50showing them during kicker arm movement; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic wiring and air flow diagram showing the.electrical, electromechanical and pneumatic connections of a deviceaccording to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, thepreferred embodiment of the invention comprises a device which ismounted by a pair of support arms 12, 14 on a conventional sewingmachine (not shown) which automatically stitches book signaturestogether along one edge into a pad. Arms 12, 14 are spaced apart andpositioned above the sewing machines bed 16. The completed pad,illustrated by reference character 18, is guided along the bed by arms12, 14 as it advances out of the machine in the direction shown by arrowA in FIG. 3. The arms 12, 14 can be moved closer together and furtherapart to suit the length dimension of the book pad along its stitchededge. In addition, the position of the bed 16 is vertically adjustablewith respect to the arms 12, 14 to enable the device to accommodatebooks of varying width.

Underneath the pad and mounted in apertures in bed 16 are a pair ofendless belts 20 mounted at one end about idler rolls 22 and at theother end about driving rolls (not shown) which move the upper runs ofthe belts in the forward direction shown by arrow B in FIG. 3. Themotion of these belts is synchronized with the advance of the book padso that both move together in the same direction and at the same speed.This helps keep the front or leading end of the pad 18 generally uprightand facilitates the book separating function of the device. The bottomedge of the leading book in the pad preferably trails its upper edgejust a bit.

Another portion of the device which helps keep the.

leading end of the pad generally upright is the movable gate 26 whichcomprises a supporting bar 28, a pair of fingers 30 and a pair of siderails 32. The bar 28 is mounted between the bottom ends of the siderails 32 and the fingers 30 are spaced apart on the bar extendingdownwardly and rearwardly to support the leading end of the pad atpoints below the bar 28.

The gate 26 is hingedly attached to a front portion of a travel bar 34which carries a number of the other elements of the device and ismovable forward with the pad as it advances along the bed 16 of thesewing machine. The travel bar 34 in turn is mounted on two spaced apartpiston rods 36 forming part of a pair of air cylinders 38 which aremounted on a cross bar 40 attached to'a front portion of arms l2, l4. 7

To maintain the gate 26 in its proper up/down position at all times is agate actuating air cylinder 42 carried on a support 44 which is mountedon and moves forward and back 'with the travel bar 34. The air cylinder42 is connected to the g ate,26 by a linkage 46 which includes a pistonrod 48, a T-shap'ed link 50, a bar 52, a cross bar 54, a pin 56 andmounting element 58. The piston rod 48 is connected at one end to apiston (not shown) in the air cylinder 42. One leg 60 of the T-shapedlink 50 is pivotally connected to the other end of the piston rod whilea second leg 62 of link 50 is pivotally connected to the front end ofthe air cylinder support 44. The bar 52 is pivotally connected at oneend to the third leg 64 of the link 50 and at its other end is similarlyconnected to the cross bar 54 via the pin 56 and mounting element 58which is mounted on the cross bar. The cross bar 54 itself is mountedbetween the side rails 32 of the gate 26. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and4 of the drawings, the elements of the linkage 46 are so constructedandarranged that when piston rod 48 is forward as in FIG. 3) the gate isdown and when the rod is back (as in FIG. 4) the gate is up. Aircylinder 42 is a conventional double acting device so that with airpressure in one direction it pushes the gate down while with airpressure on the other side it lifts the gate up.

To shear one or more books from the pad 18 the device includes a plungerdevice 66 comprising an air cylinder 68, a piston rod and a plunger 72.The air cylinder 68 is also a conventional double acting device whichurges the rod 70 and plunger 72 toward the pad 18 when air pressure isdelivered to one side and away from the pad to its normal or restposition as seen in FIG. 2 when delivered to the other. The air cylinder68 is mounted on the underside of a plate 74 which is bolted onto thesupport arm 14.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 6, the device alsoincludes three microswitches 76, 78 and 80, five solenoids 112, 118,122, 127 and 128, and five air valves 88, 90, 92, 94 and 96. The firstmicroswitch 76 is mounted adjacent one of the air cylinders 38 on thecross bar 40 and controls the book separating function of the plunger.This switch 76 is a conventional double pole, single throw device whichis operated by the movement of a rod 98 which is affixed to and moveswith the travel bar 34 through an aperture in the cross bar 40. A cam100 is adjustably positioned on the rod 98 to actuate the switch whenthe 1 travel bar reaches a predetermined forward position. Themicroswitch 78 is fixedly attached to the topside of the plate 74 andcontrols the gate lifting and lowering operations. The second switch 78is also a conventional double pole, single throw device which isoperated by the movement ofa rod 102 affixed to the plunger 72. A cam104 is adjustably positioned on the rod 102 and serves to actuate thissecond switch 78 when the plunger has done its job of severing a bookfrom the pad 18. The third microswitch 80 is mounted on a support 106fixed to the travel bar 34 above the gate 26 and is actuated by thecross bar 54 when the gate reaches its lifted or raised position. Thisswitch is a conventional double pole, double throw device. It controlsthe return of the travel bar 34 to its starting position as '7 well andprepares the plunger 72 for return to its original position.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the electrical circuitry portion of the devicecomprises five series branch networks a, b, c, d and e connected inparallel across a 120 volt 60 cycle per second power source 108. Networka comprises a pair of contacts 110 in switch 76 in series with asolenoid 112. Network b includes a pair of contacts 116 in switch 76, apair of contacts 114 in switch 80 and a solenoid 118. Network ccomprises a pair of contacts 120 in switch 78 in series with a solenoid122. Network d comprises a pair of contacts 126 in switch 80 in serieswith a solenoid 128 and network e comprises a pair of contacts 124 inswitch 78 in series with a solenoid 127. The switches 76, 78 and 80 arespring biased so that contacts 116, 120 and 126 are normally open whilecontacts 110, 114 and 124 are normally closed.

Turning now to the pneumatic control aspects of the invention the deviceincludes a dry air supply 130 of about 80 to I50 p.s.i.g., a filter 133and a valve 132 which reduces the pressure to about 80 p.s.i.g. andfeeds the air directly to the valves 88, 90, 92, 94 and 96. Thesolenoids 112 and 118 control the plunger valves 96 and 90 respectively.Similarly, the solenoids 122 and 127 control the gate valves 88 and 94respectively. All these solenoids are coil type devices which aremounted in pairs opposite each other on their respective valves. Theyare connected up electrically as far as is conveniently possible so asto have one side of each pair energized while the other issimultaneously deenergized.

With the travel bar 34 retracted, the plunger 72 is in its normal orretracted position, the gate 26 is down and the support 28 is restingagainst the front end of the book pad 18. In this condition contacts116, 120 and 126 are open and contacts 110, 114 and 124 are closed.These conditions insure that solenoids 118, 122 and 128 are deenergizedwhile solenoids 112 and 127 are energized and energization of thesedevices insures that valves 94 and 96 are operated so as to pass airfrom the source 130 into one end cylinders 42 and 68 to hold the gate 26and plunger 72 in their down and retracted positions. As the pad 18moves forward out of the sewing machine it pushes the gate 26 forwardbringing the travel bar 34 with it. This in turn pulls the rods 36 outof the cylinders 38. A pair of adjustable bleeder valves 135 at theopposite end of the cylinders 38 maintains a partial vacuum in thecylinders as the bar is pushed forward to keep the pad upright and inline. When the gate 26 and travel bar 34 have reached theirpredetermined forward position the cam 100 actuates the first switch 76providing the signal which sets the device in motion. Actuation of theswitch 76 closes. contacts 116 and operates the plunger 72 to sever oneor more books from the pad. An analysis of the circuit will show thatthe closing of these contacts allows current to flow from the electricalsource 108 through contacts 116 and 114 thus energizing solenoid 118 tooperate plunger valve 90 which operates the plunger. At the same time ascontacts 116 are closed contacts 110 are opened, solenoid 112deenergized and the plunger valve 96 operated to release any pressure inthe op posite end of the cylinder which would prevent the plunger fromoperating properly.

This next phase begins when the plunger completes its book severingmotion. When this occurscam 104 on rod 102 actuates the second switch 78closing contacts 120 and opening contacts 124. This energizes solenoid122 and simultaneously deenergizes solenoid 127 causing the gate valves88 and 94' to operate to raise the gate. During this operation air fromthe source 130 enters the cylinder 42 through valve 88 and exits throughvalve 94.

The third phase of operation of the device begins when the gate 26becomes fully lifted and the cross bar 54 actuates the third switch 80.Actuation of this switch closes the contacts 126, and simultaneouslyopens contacts 114. On the one hand this energizes solenoid 128, whichoperates valve 92, thus filling one end of the cylinders 38 with airstarting the travel bar 34 on its return movement. it also deenergizesthe solenoid 118, thus returning the valve 90 to its venting position inpreparation for returning the plunger 72 to its retracted position.

As the travel bar 34 moves rearwardly the cam 100 moves out from underthe first switch 76 which is spring returned to its original condition.This opens the contacts 116, and simultaneously closes contacts 110,thus energizing the solenoid 112 which operates valve 96 which returnsthe plunger to its original position.

Movement of the plunger 72 to this position moves the cam 104 out fromunder the second switch which is also spring returned to its originalcondition. This simultaneously opens contacts 120 and closes contacts124 thus deenergizing and energizing solenoids 122 and 127 respectivelyto lower the gate. It should be clear that in both these operations thevalves involved are operated to pressurize and exhaust air fromcylinders 68 and 42 in the opposite direction from that previouslydescribed.

A pair of springs 134 mounted about rods 36 cushions the rearward motionof the travel bar 34 so that the gate 26 and support bar 28 come to restgently against the book pad 18 rather than smacking against it withconsiderable force. The lowering of the gate opens the contacts 126 inthe third switch deenergizing the travel bar solenoid 128 which returnsvalves 92 to their venting positions in which the plunger and the travelbar are readied to begin the cycle again.

In the preferred embodiment of the device 10 there is also included akicker arm 136 mounted on the end of the gate s supporting bar 28opposite the plunger 72. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5a, the bar 136 hasan end portion 138 which lies behind and just below the last signatureof the next book to be separated from the pad 18. In the drawings theheavier lines showing the upper surface of the pad 18in FIGS. 1 and 5denote the boundaries between books. Once a book is severed from the pad18 it momentarily stands upright (see FIG. 5B) until the gate 26 israised. In this condition the kicker arm portion 138 lies adjacent arear portion of the separated book. Then as the gate is partially raised(see FIG. 5c) the arm portion 136 pushes the separated book away fromthe pad 18. This kicking motion is then completed (see FIG. 4) and thegate 26 is fully raised. The now separated book is delivered from thedevice and ready for further processing. One advantage of including thekicker arm 136 in the device of this invention is that it enables thebook separating function to be part of an automated line of bookbindingequipment in which a conveyor system automatically carries theseparated books away from the device to machinery for accomplishing thenext step in the binding process.

Though the preferred embodiment of a device according to this inventionhas been described with reference to a mechanism which pushes the bookto be separated horizontally with respect to the book pad it is alsopossible to push the book in any other transverse direction toaccomplish the desired separation. Apparatus for accomplishingseparation in any such direction is intended to be within the scope andspiritof this invention. Likewise, though the solenoids and switcheshave been described as useful in connection with a volt 6O cycle persecond power source other voltages and frequencies are satisfactory andcould also be used. The air pressures mentioned herein are alsoexemplary of just one of many satisfactory pressures and fluids whichcan be used.

The rate at which a device according to the invention operates is afunction not only of speed with which the book pad is advanced, but alsothe thickness of the books to be separated from the pad. Books havingthicknesses of from about 10 to 58 signatures per book with betweenabout 16 to 32 pages (the latter number of pages being preferred) persignature have been separated by this device. Separation of more thanone book at a time from a book pad is also possible by choosing thinnerbooks and by positioning the plunger appropriately. The point at whichthe plunger will operate is controlled by the position of the cam 100 onthe travel bar rod 90.

It also should be clear that though the device of this invention hasbeen described in connection with a book signature sewing machine, thatsuch a machine forms no part of the invention. Indeed, a book pad can befed through a device according to this invention regardless of whetherthe pad was formed in such a machine or not. Thus sewn signatures arenot necessary to the utility of the invention. All that is required is abook pad of signatures which are interconnected in some way, but arecapable of being separated by a plunger device of the type describedherein.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for separating books from a pad of books interconnectedadjacent one edge and advancing along a predetermined path, saidapparatus comprising a gate device including a gate which engages thefront end of said pad and moves with it as it advances along said path,means for detecting the position of the front end of said pad, a plungercontrolled by said detecting means for engaging the book at the frontedge of said pad along an edge adjacent to which the books in said padare interconnected and moving said book transversely relative to saidpad to separate the two whenever the front end of said pad has advancedto a predetermined location, and means controlled by the position ofsaid plunger for moving said gate along an arcuate path away from andabove said book pad whenever said plunger has engaged said book andadvanced to a predetermined position and wherein there are means mountedon said gate for engaging and moving each separated book away from saidpad as said gate is moved along said arcuate path.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gate device is mounted ona travel bar mechanism which is reciprocable on the path along which thebook pad advances, and there are means connected to said travel bar forslowing its movement in one direction to maintairi'said gate against thefront end of said book pad to support it in a generally uprightcondition as it advances.

4. A device for separating at least one flat article at a time from acontinuously advancing supply of such articles which are interconnectedtogether along one edge, comprising means for guiding said advancingarticles in a straight line, means for supporting said advancingarticles along an edge opposite said edge along which they areinterconnected means for engaging and advancing the supported edge ofsaid articles in synchronism with the movement of said articles to keepthem in a generally upright condition, a member pivotally mountedadjacent the guiding means for arcuate movement between a positionengaging the front end of said article supply and a position out ofcontact with said end and out of its line of advancement, said memberalso being slidably mounted for advancement by said article supply whenit engages its front end, means controlled by the position ofadvancement of said member for engaging an edge of the article at saidfront end and for moving said article transversely along itsinterconnected edge relative to said supply to separate the article fromthe supply whenever the front end of said supply has advanced to apredetermined location beyond said guiding means.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said article separating meanscomprises a plunger device reciprocable between a resting and an articleseparating position and there are means for pivoting the pivotallymounted member away from the front end of said article supply inresponse to said plungers attaining said article separating position.

6. A device according to claim 4 wherein there are means for biasing thepivotally mounted member against the front end of said article supplywhen in its engaged position to facilitate holding the articles in anupright position as they advance.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein there are means operated inresponse to the pivotally mounted member's reaching a position away fromsaid article supply front end and out of its line of advancement forinitiating the return of said article engaging and moving means to aposition out of line with said advancing article supply.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for initiating thereturn of said article engaging and moving means also initiates thereturn of said member to its position engaging the front end of saidadvancing article supply.

1. Apparatus for separating books from a pad of books interconnectedadjacent one edge and advancing along a predetermined path, saidapparatus comprising a gate device including a gate which engages thefront end of said pad and moves with it as it advances along said path,means for detecting the position of the front end of said pad, a plungercontrolled by said detecting means for engaging the book at the frontedge of said pad along an edge adjacent to which the books in said padare interconnected and moving said book transversely relative to saidpad to separate the two whenever the front end of said pad has advancedto a predetermined location, and means controlled by the position ofsaid plunger for moving said gate along an arcuate path away from andabove said book pad whenever said plunger has engaged said book andadvanced to a predetermined position and wherein there are means mountedon said gate for engaging and moving each separated book away from saidpad as said gate is moved along said arcuate path.
 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said gate device is mounted on a travel barmechanism which is reciprocable on the path along which the book padadvances, and there are means connected to said travel bar for slowingits movement in one direction to maintain said gate against the frontend of said book pad to support it in a generally upright condition asit advances.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means fordetecting the position of the front end of said pad includes a camdevice connected with said travel bar and a switch mechanism operated bysaid cam device when the front end of said pad reaches saidpredetermined position.
 4. A device for separating at least one flatarticle at a time from a continuously advancing supply of such articleswhich are interconnected together along one edge, comprising means forguiding said advancing articles in a straight line, means for supportingsaid advancing articles along an edge opposite said edge along whichthey are interconnected, means for engaging and advancing the supportededge of said articles in synchronism with the movement of said articlesto keep them in a generally upright condition, a member pivotallymounted adjacent the guiding means for arcuate movement between aposition engaging the front end of said article supply and a positionout of contact with said end and out of its line of advancement, saidmember also being slidably mounted for advancement by said articlesupply when it engages its front end, means controlled by the positionof advancement of said member for engaging an edge of the article atsaid front end and for moving said article transversely along itsinterconnected edge relative to said supply to separate the article fromthe supply whenever the front end of said supply has advanced to apredetermined location beyond said guiding means.
 5. A device accordingto claim 4 wherein said article separating means comprises a plungerdevice reciprocable between a resting and an article separating positionand there are means for pivoting the pivotally mounted member away fromthe front end of said article supply in response to said plunger''sattaining said article separating position.
 6. A device according toclaim 4 wherein there are means for biasing the pivotally mounted memberagainst the front end of said article supply when in its engagedposition to facilitate holding the articles in an upright position asthey advance.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein there are meansoperated in response to the pivotally mounted member''s reaching aposition away from said article supply front end and out of its line ofadvancement for initiating the return of said article engaging andmoving means to a position out of line with said advancing articlesupply.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means forinitiating the return of said article engaging and moving means alsoinitiates the return of said member to its position engaging the frontend of said advancing article supply.